Monday evening provided one of the most thrilling battles of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far, with Paraguay and Germany going head-to-head in a matchup that went all the way to sudden-death penalty kicks.
Paraguay took a 1-0 lead just minutes before halftime, but Germany equalized it with a goal of their own in the 54th minute.
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After stoppage time ended with both teams tied, the battle went into extra time.
With 30 extra minutes to work with, it looked like Germany had won it off a goal from Jonathan Tah in the 102nd minute. But it was waved off after VAR review due to a foul that Waldemar Anton committed on goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
After 30 extra minutes with a 1-1 tie, the match went to a penalty shootout. Gill picked up two huge saves to put Paraguay in position to win before Antonio Sanabria’s miss kept Germany alive.
Germany capitalized with a goal from Nadiem Amiri and a save from Manuel Neuer, sending the match to a sudden-death shootout.
With everything on the line, Tah took the penalty kick and skied it far above the net.
Moments later, José Canale stepped up and and scored the biggest goal of his career, pushing Paraguay into the Round of 32 and elmintating Germany in the process.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
